Chapter 5 A Maid Who Betrays Her Master Cannot Be Accepted
Zhou Congxian glanced back and said, "Ignore her."
Song Jiyun smiled, but still said magnanimously, "Jiang Niangzi has served you for several years, so it's a bit too inhumane for Xian Ge to do this."
Zhou Congxian recalled her humble demeanor under the moonlight on the Shangsi Festival.
"She's not that kind of immature person."
When Song Jiyun heard him speaking so kindly to another woman, a hint of displeasure flashed through her heart.
This thought only lasted a moment.
From now on, she will be the legal wife and the legitimate daughter of the Song family.
A pawned maid, a mere pastime, not worth her time or effort.
Zhou Congxian escorted Song Ji back to the Song residence.
Just then, Song Yitang came out, and he watched his sister get off Zhou Congxian's horse with a blush on her face.
"What kind of behavior is it to hug and kiss in public!"
Song Jiyun raised his chin, "The Zhou and Song families have already discussed marriage, let's see who dares to say a word!"
Song Yitang knew that his younger sister had been spoiled, so he turned to Zhou Congxian and said, "My sister is ignorant, but doesn't Prince Zhou understand?"
Zhou Congxian dismounted. "Yes, Congxian knows he was wrong, but this time the matter was urgent."
"Brother, do you have official business? You should go quickly!"
He had barely uttered a word when his sister pushed him into the carriage.
Song Jiyun wouldn't let her brother expose her.
Zhou Congxian said, "I'll go with you to see Madam."
"No need!" Song Jiyun pointed at her brother's carriage, which had already gone far away, while holding her handkerchief.
“My brother has gone to work, so I think my mother is probably alright.”
"Thank you so much, Brother Congxian, for bringing me back today. I'd love to invite you and Sister Qing to come to my house for tea and flowers another day!"
Song Jiyun ran back into the mansion, and her personal maid Zisu stepped forward, "Miss, what if Prince Zhou finds out we lied to him..."
"So what?" Song Jiyun said nonchalantly. "The Duchess is still not giving up. She's going to hold some ridiculous tea banquet in a few days. Isn't she just trying to make Li Ruoshuang her daughter-in-law?"
"Today, my brother Zhou Congxian and I are riding together in the bustling city to tell everyone, including my future mother-in-law, that Zhou Congxian can only marry me!"
Song Jiyun then thought of what Zhou Congxian had said when he came.
She gritted her teeth and let out a soft snort, "That lowly concubine..."
"Brother Congxian actually spoke up for her! She's so young and already climbing into bed; otherwise, how could Brother Congxian have such a big child!"
“Miss…” Zisu’s heart skipped a beat, and she had a bad feeling.
Song Jiyun casually picked a magnolia flower and squinted slightly as she looked at the pure white magnolia.
"If she obediently cowers in the corner and tries to survive, I will generously spare her life."
"If she dares to dream of taking a place in Brother Xian's heart..."
Before he could finish speaking, the freshly picked magnolia blossoms were already crushed under his shoes.
Zisu lowered her head and dared not speak again.
The sound of horses' hooves faded into the distance on Xuanwu Street.
Jiang Shiyao stood on the side of the street, watching the figures rushing past.
He suddenly gave a bitter smile.
The year she was pregnant with Fu'er, the entire household went to the manor in Dongshan to escape the summer heat.
Zhuangzi had a plum grove, and the plum wine in his mansion was brewed from plums grown in this grove.
There were a few mulberry trees in the woods, and it was the time when the mulberries were turning purplish-red.
Jiang Shiyao ate her fill under the tree all by herself.
When Mingyu came looking for her with a look of impatience, she realized that she had been gone for more than an hour.
She had eaten too much, and with her big belly, she kept stopping and starting as she walked. When she came out, she didn't realize how far the forest was, but when she got back, she realized how long it was.
Mingyu thought she was walking too slowly, so she ran back first.
At this moment, Zhou Congxian appeared leading a horse. "What are you doing here?"
Startled, she took a step back, her heel kicking a rock in the grass. Losing her balance, she almost fell.
Zhou Congxian grabbed her arm, "Don't you think about your current situation?!"
Jiang Shiyao twisted her ankle.
She cradled her pregnant belly, pursed her lips, and whispered, "I...I twisted my ankle. Would Your Highness be so kind as to take me home?"
Zhou Congxian frowned, glanced at her feet, and turned to leave.
"Your Highness?" Jiang Shiyao was stunned. Was he going to abandon her?
"Red Hare won't let anyone else ride it, I'll send someone to pick you up."
Zhou Congxian led the horse away, and she waited until dusk, by which time she had eaten all the mulberries she had wanted.
She neither saw Zhou Congxian nor anyone else who came to pick her up.
In the end, she limped back home by herself.
But now she knows that Red Hare just didn't want her to ride it.
The departing figure was no longer visible, and Jiang Shiyao blinked to hold back her tears.
When she returned from the Frost's Descent, her eyes held an undeniable shyness.
Jiang Shiyao said, "Miss Shuangjiang has been gone for quite a while. I thought she had already returned to her residence."
Shuangjiang's heart skipped a beat, but when she looked up, she didn't see anything unusual on Jiang Niangzi's face.
She looked away guiltily, "This servant...this servant waited in line for a while!"
Jiang Shiyao nodded knowingly, "So that's how it is. I almost misunderstood you, Miss."
"By the way, I've already spoken with the shopkeeper, and we'll buy all the silk threads we need here from now on."
"Buy everything here," Shuangjiang said, her eyes slightly opening.
The shopkeeper's wife said, "Our shop also offers home delivery."
Shuangjiang glanced at Jiang Niangzi and the shopkeeper's wife, her lips slightly pursed.
Upon returning home, she told Mama Gao what Lady Jiang had said.
Mrs. Gao seemed thoughtful. "I understand. You can go back now."
The side room in the courtyard has been converted into an embroidery room.
On the wooden shelf, there was a row of brightly colored silk threads, probably more colorful than any other in the world.
Jiang Shiyao sat in front of the embroidery frame, her fingers flying across the page.
Fu'er tiptoed in quietly, sunlight streaming from the doorway onto the little girl behind her.
A long shadow fell on the embroidery frame. Jiang Shiyao smiled as she watched the shadow swaying between her fingertips, but she didn't move.
As the little girl approached, he suddenly turned around and picked her up.
"Ah! — Cluck cluck cluck!"
The little girl cried out in surprise, then burst into laughter in her mother's arms.
Jiang Shiyao hugged and kissed her daughter, "It's Frost's Descent."
Fu'er's round almond-shaped eyes were moist. "Sister Shuangjiang just came back."
Her voice was low, and she cupped her two little hands to her mouth, looking very mysterious, "Sister Shuangjiang found some silver!"
Jiang Shiyao raised an eyebrow slightly. "You saw it?"
Fu'er shook her little head. "I saw her smile, just like when Mother counts silver!"
Jiang Shiyao chuckled, "Then you can tell others, otherwise Sister Shuangjiang will be sad."
"Don't worry, Mother, Fu'er will move, move the gold!"
"Moving gold?" Jiang Shiyao tapped her little nose. "It's a promise worth a thousand pieces of gold."
When the frost came in, the mother and daughter were in front of the embroidery frame, and Jiang Shiyao was helping Fu'er split the thread.
Each thread is thinner than a human hair; if you're not careful, it can disappear with a sneeze.
This was Granny Chang's unique skill. So many young girls in the mansion learned it from her back then, but she only taught it to Jiang Shiyao.
Jiang Shiyao put her daughter down. "Embroidering this is too hard on the eyes. I just hope Fu'er will be happy in this life."
Shuangjiang stepped forward and took Fu'er's small hand, "My lady, Miss Mingyu has arrived."
Jiang Shiyao looked up and saw Mingyu standing at the gate of the courtyard with her head down through the window.
They're still in the mansion.
That's true. Mingyu was born into a family, and his parents were part of the dowry of Lady Zhao, the Duchess of the State. Although he is still on the estate, he still has some influence with Lady Zhao.
As soon as Mingyu entered, she knelt down, sobbing, "My lady, please save me!"
Jiang Shiyao sat in the seat of honor, holding a bowl of tea in her hands.
With a helpless tone, she said, "Mingyu, aren't you making things difficult for me?"
Mingyu is the Duchess's person, but now she has been attacked by the old lady's people and lost face. She probably doesn't want to see her now.
A second-class maid in the Duke's mansion is now unwanted by all the other courtyards. What awaits her are either menial tasks in the back courtyard or going to the estate like her mother.
Mingyu now regrets it; she shouldn't have gone to complain herself.
"My lady, please, for the sake of Mingyu who has served you and the young lady for more than four years, beg for my life!"
Jiang Shiyao sighed, "Mingyu, please don't make things difficult for me. How can I plead for you? And who can I ask for help from?"
Mingyu straightened up and said urgently, "Aunt Gao! Just say a few good words for her in front of Aunt Gao."
"You are, after all, the prince's bedmate; Madam Gao wouldn't refuse you this face!"
Jiang Shiyao looked puzzled. "Why do you need to ask Mama Gao?"
“I remember your mother was part of the madam’s dowry, and you’ve been serving the young master in his courtyard for three years. Wouldn’t it be better for you to go and beg the madam?”
Mingyu paused. If she could ask the madam for help, why would she have come here in such dire straits?
Jiang Shiyao continued, "It's not that I'm unwilling to help you. You know that when I first came to this manor, I wasn't even as good as the lowest-ranking maid. What right do I have to plead for someone?"
"In truth, how am I any different from you?"
Upon hearing her words, Mingyu swallowed back the words she was about to say.
Back when Jiang Shiyao first entered the manor, she wasn't even worthy of carrying her shoes!
She only became a master after climbing into the prince's bed.
She was originally intended as a concubine for the heir by the madam, but Jiang Shiyao, who was luckier, got there first and even had a child.
If she can win the favor of the young master, not only will Mama Gao not care about her anymore, but even the old lady will no longer care about her.
Jiang Shiyao watched the ever-changing expressions on Mingyu's face, a faint smile playing on her lips.
She took a sip of tea and seemed to sigh, "This year's spring tea was just delivered, and it was roasted to perfection."
"Mingyu, I can't help you with anything else, but I can share some of the new tea with you."
Mingyu withdrew her gaze and slowly stood up. "No need, my lady, please drink it yourself. I will have my own new tea."
Mingyu is gone.
Unlike his sorrowful appearance when he arrived, his departing figure even carried a hint of joy.
Shuangjiang led Fu'er out of the inner room.
“My lady, Mingyu was punished by Mama Gao for betraying her master and seeking personal gain, yet she still shamelessly came to beg you.”
Jiang Shiyao smiled and said, "We're all under the same sky, it's not easy for anyone."
Shuangjiang hesitated for a moment, and Gao's mother warned her not to be fooled by Jiang Niangzi's gentle appearance.
"Back then, so many girls were offered to the Crown Prince's courtyard, but none of them worked out. Only she got pregnant and was promoted to concubine. She is no ordinary woman."
The words of Madam Gao flashed through her mind, but the woman in front of her, Madam Jiang, was gently braiding Fu'er's disheveled hair, as if whether Mingyu betrayed her master or not had no effect on her at all.
She unconsciously began to defend Jiang Shiyao.
Perhaps, having witnessed too much infighting within the inner quarters, the Crown Prince simply prefers simpler people.
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